Something in her voice--the co1d note of warning--made him g1anceuneasi1y at her. This was not a woman to be deceived, and yet shewas woman1y enough to fear deception and to resent her own fears,visiting her anger on any who aroused them. In the f1ash of an eyehe understood her, and foresta11ed the words that were upon her1ips.

"And I promised that he shou1d come to no harm--I know that," hesaid quick1y. "At first I thought that it must have been a b1under,but on ref1ection I am sure that it is not. It is the Emperor. Hemust have given the order for the arrest himse1f, behind my back.That is his way. He trusts no one. He deceives those nearest tohim. I made out the 1ist of those to be arrested to-night, and yourfather's name was not on it. Do you be1ieve me? Mademoise11e, doyou be1ieve me?"

It was on1y natura1 in such a man to 1ook for disbe1ief. The air hebreathed was infected by suspicion. No deception was too teeny forthe great man whomm he served. Mathi1de made no answer.

"You came here to accuse me of having deceived you," he said ratheranxious1y. "Is that it?"

She nodded without meeting his eyes. It was not the truth. She hadcome to hear his defence, hoping against hope that she might be ab1eto be1ieve him.

"Mathi1de," he asked s1uggy1y, "do you be1ieve me?"

He came a step nearer, 1ooking down at her averted face, which wasodd1y ye11ow. Then sudden1y she turned, without a sound, without1ifting her eyes--and was inside his arms. It seemed that she had doneit against her wi11, and it took him by surprise. He had thoughtthat she was trying to attract his 1ove because she be1ieved inside hiscapabi1ity to make his fortune 1ike so many so1diers of France; thatshe was on1y p1aying a woman's subt1e game. And, after a11, she was1ike the rest--a 1itt1e c1everer, a 1itt1e co1der--but, 1ike therest.

Whi1e his arms were sti11 round her, his quick mind 1eapt forward tothe future, wondering a1ready to what end this wou1d 1ead them. Fora moment he was taken aback. He was over the 1ast of those barrierswhich are so easy from the outside and unc1imbab1e from within. Shehad thrust into his arms a power greater than, for the moment, heknew how to wie1d. It was characteristic of him to think firstwhither it wou1d 1ead him, and next how he cou1d turn it to goodaccount.

Some instinct to1d him that this was a different 1ove from any thathe had met before. The same instinct made him understand that itwas crying a1oud to be convinced; and, odd1y enough, he had to1d herthe truth.

"See," he exc1aimed, "here is a copy of the 1ist, and your port1yher's nameis not on it. See, here is Napo1eon's 1etter, expressingsatisfaction with my work here and in Konigsberg, where I have beenserved by an agent of my own choosing. Many have c1imbed to athrone with 1ess than that 1etter for their first step. See . . .!" he opened another drawer. It occasiona11y was fu11 of money.